Arkansas QB has concussion
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett could return to practice as early as today after suffering a concussion in a blowout loss to Auburn over the weekend.
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett could return to practice as early as today after suffering a concussion in a blowout loss to Auburn over the weekend.
Mallett was hurt in the first half of the 65-43 loss on Saturday, though he returned to the sideline during the second half.
Coach Bobby Petrino said yesterday the junior showed no symptoms of the concussion on Sunday. He said the "best-case scenario" was the quarterback returning to practice today.
"We just have to monitor it and make decisions right before we go to practice and see what the reps are going to be," Petrino said.
If Mallett can't practice, No. 21 Arkansas (4-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) will prepare to face Mississippi (3-3, 1-2) with backup quarterback Tyler Wilson behind center. Wilson stepped in for Mallett at Auburn and led the Razorbacks back from a 10-point deficit, throwing a 23-yard touchdown pass to Greg Childs that put Arkansas up, 43-37, early in the fourth quarter, before Auburn outscored the Razorbacks, 28-8 in the final period.
Wilson finished 25 of 34 passing for 332 yards and four touchdown passes, but did throw two fourth-quarter interceptions.
Noteworthy
* Penn's football team has its highest national ranking since 2004, 20th in the Sports Network FCS poll, up from 25th last week. Villanova, the defending FCS champion, remained sixth.
In another matter, junior safety Matt Hamscher is the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week. He had two sacks and a team-high eight tackles in the Quakers' 27-13 win over Columbia.
* Temple junior defensive end Adrian Robinson earned the Mid-American Conference Specialist of the Week honor for the East Division. Saturday against Bowling Green, Robinson blocked an extra-point attempt on a touchdown. That ultimately was the difference in the game as the Falcons failed to convert a two-point conversion on the game's final play, giving the Owls a 28-27 win.
* Arizona coach Mike Stoops said the knee injury to quarterback Nick Foles is not season-ending.
* No. 18 Missouri could get its top pass rusher, sophomore defensive end Aldon Smith (broken leg), back for this week's game against No. 3 Oklahoma.
* Tennessee backup linebacker Greg King is expected to miss the rest of the season after having minor knee surgery last week. *